Cranfield University, a specialised postgraduate institution located in Bedfordshire, England, is known for its strong emphasis on research studies and industry collaboration. Established in 1946 as the College of Aeronautics, it gained university status in 1969 and has since expanded to include a wide range of disciplines such as aerospace, defence, energy, environment, manufacturing, and transportation.

There are more than 50+ postgraduate programme that is being offered to students with many scholarship options available to choose from. International students are given the utmost support to find and engage in professional work in the UK after completing graduation.

The university's commitment to research excellence is evident in its state-of-the-art facilities and its significant impact on real-world problems, with 88% of its research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Cranfield maintains 14 high-level strategic partnerships with industry, supporting extensive portfolios with Innovate UK and the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). With a high employability rate of 90% within 15 months of graduation, the university ensures that its graduates are well-prepared for the job market.

Cranfield's campus life is tailored to fit students from all diversity, offering advanced research labs, sports and fitness facilities, and various on-campus accommodation options. The university also prioritises sustainability and community engagement, ranking in the top 20 in Europe for overall sustainability efforts.

Rich in history, Cranfield combines its aeronautical roots with modern innovation, making it a unique and appealing place to live and study. With its dedication to applied research, strong industry ties, and supportive environment, Cranfield University stands out as a leader in postgraduate education and research, significantly contributing to the UK economy and global advancements.

Cranfield University's motto, "Post nubes lux," translates to "After clouds, light." This phrase signifies the journey from darkness to illumination, representing the pursuit of knowledge and overcoming challenges. The motto is featured on the University's coat of arms, which was introduced when Cranfield received its Royal Charter in 1969.

The coat of arms symbolises the University's heritage and commitment to education, reflecting its origins in aeronautics and its mission to advance various fields through research and innovation.

Cranfield University is on a mission to create and transform knowledge, translating it into practical applications for the benefit of society. "Post nubes lux" encapsulates Cranfield's dedication to enlightening minds and making a positive impact on the world

Formally known as Colledge of Aeronautics, the education institution was formed in 1946, under the supervision of the first appointed governor Lord Kings Norton. Under his jurisdiction, the Cranfield School of Management section was introduced in 1967 and gained degree-awarding ability in 1969. The same year Cranfield Institute of Technology was incorporated by royal charter giving the institution full university affiliation.

Later, the National College of Agricultural Engineering was founded in 1975 and a new department was added in partnership with the Royal Military College of Science in 1984 (now known as "Cranfield Defence and Security").

In 1993, the institution got its present name “Cranfield University”  through the amendment of its royal charter. Almost a decade later in 2003, Cranfield stopped providing undergraduate courses and became a fully postgraduate degree provider.

Today, Cranfield is globally known for its prestigious postgraduate education and research in science, engineering, technology, and management providing 6% of the UK job market.

Cranfield University UK holds accreditation from many prestigious professional bodies. Some of them are:

1. AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)
2. AMBA (the Association of MBAs)
3. EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System of the European Foundation for Management Development)
4. Small Business Charter (SBC)

Cranfield University is located in the countryside of England. The campus is set in a huge space with

1. A dedicated international standard airport.
2. Football court, indoor sports hall, full-size cricket field for sports and recreation options.
3. Eight badminton courts, located in the sports centre
4. Four outdoor and floodlit tennis courts, two of which are newly resurfaced.
5. Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool facilities.
6. The Fitness Centre includes a range of cardio machines and free-weight equipment.
7. Technology Park situated right next to the campus area is home to nearly 60 science, technology and knowledge-based businesses.
8. Multiple on-campus café, bars and restaurants such as Cranberries, Costa Coffee, Stafford Cripps, CSA Café and Bar, CMDC, Hartley’s Bar within the CMDC, Reggie’s, Café 52 etc provide students with wider options for breakfast, lunch and evening snacks.
9. Two renowned hotels with full accommodation, conference and banqueting facilities

Cranfield University courses mainly provide academics on science, technology, engineering and management. The lists of Cranfield University Courses are mentioned below.

Pre-Masters

1. Engineering

Research

1. Causal Machine Learning In Aerospace

Postgraduate

1. Accounting and Finance
2. Advanced Air Mobility Systems
3. Advanced Chemical Engineering
4. Advanced Chemical Engineering (Certificate)
5. Advanced Chemical Engineering (Diploma)
6. Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
7. Advanced Lightweight and Composite Structures
8. Advanced Materials (Engineering and Industrial Applications)
9. Advanced Materials (Engineering and Industrial Applications) (Certificate)
10. Advanced Materials (Engineering and Industrial Applications) (Diploma)
11. Advanced Mechanical Engineering
12. Advanced Mechanical Engineering (Certificate)
13. Advanced Mechanical Engineering (Diploma)
14. Advanced Motorsport Engineering
15. Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics
16. Aerospace Computational Engineering
17. Aerospace Computational Engineering (Certificate)
18. Aerospace Computational Engineering (Diploma)
19. Aerospace Dynamics
20. Aerospace Dynamics (Certificate)
21. Aerospace Manufacturing
22. Aerospace Manufacturing (Certificate)
23. Aerospace Materials
24. Aerospace Materials (Certificate)
25. Aerospace Materials (Diploma)
26. Aerospace Propulsion - Thermal Power and Propulsion
27. Aerospace Vehicle Design
28. Air Transport Management
29. Air Transport Management (Executive)
30. Air Transport Management (Executive) (Certificate)
31. Air Transport Management (Executive) (Diploma)
32. Aircraft Design - Aerospace Vehicle Design
33. Airport Planning and Management
34. Airworthiness
35. Airworthiness (Certificate)
36. Airworthiness (Diploma)
37. Applied Artificial Intelligence
38. Applied Bioinformatics
39. Astronautics and Space Engineering
40. Automotive Engineering
41. Automotive Mechatronics
42. Autonomous Vehicle Dynamics and Control
43. Aviation Digital Technology Management
44. Avionic Systems Design (Aerospace Vehicle Design)
45. Banking, Economics and Finance
46. Business Data Analytics
47. Communications Electronic Warfare
48. Computational and Software Techniques in Engineering
49. Computational Fluid Dynamics
50. Computational Intelligence for Data Analytics (Computational and Software Techniques in Engineering)
51. Computer and Machine Vision (Computational and Software Techniques in Engineering)
52. Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (Automotive)
53. Counterterrorism
54. Counterterrorism (Certificate)
55. Counterterrorism (Diploma)
56. Counterterrorism, Risk Management and Resilience
57. Counterterrorism, Risk Management and Resilience (Certificate)
58. Counterterrorism, Risk Management and Resilience (Diploma)
59. Cyber Defence and Information Assurance (Defence)
60. Cyberspace Operations
61. Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability (Formerly Advanced Digital Energy Systems)
62. Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability (Formerly Advanced Digital Energy Systems) (Certificate)
63. Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability (Formerly Advanced Digital Energy Systems) (Diploma)
64. Defence Simulation and Modelling
65. Design Thinking
66. Design Thinking
67. Digital Forensics
68. Digital Forensics (Certificate)
69. Digital Forensics (Diploma)
70. Engineering and Management of Manufacturing Systems
71. Engineering and Management of Manufacturing Systems (Certificate)
72. Engineering and Management of Manufacturing Systems (Diploma)
73. Environmental Engineering
74. Environmental Engineering (Certificate)
75. Environmental Engineering (Diploma)
76. Environmental Management for Business
77. Environmental Management for Business (Certificate)
78. Environmental Management for Business (Diploma)
79. Explosives Ordnance Engineering
80. Explosives Ordnance Engineering (Certificate)
81. Explosives Ordnance Engineering (Diploma)
82. Finance
83. Food Systems and Management
84. Food Systems and Management (Certificate)
85. Food Systems and Management (Diploma)
86. Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology
87. Forensic Ballistics (Diploma)
88. Forensic Biology
89. Forensic Biology (Diploma)
90. Forensic Explosive and Explosion Investigation
91. Forensic Explosive and Explosion Investigation (Diploma)
92. Forensic Investigation
93. Forensic Investigation (Certificate)
94. Forensic Investigation (Diploma)
95. Future Food Sustainability
96. Future Food Sustainability (Certificate)
97. Future Food Sustainability (Diploma)
98. Global Environmental Change and Planetary Health (Formerly Global Environmental Change)
99. Global Environmental Change and Planetary Health (Formerly Global Environmental Change) (Certificate)
100. Global Environmental Change and Planetary Health (Formerly Global Environmental Change) (Diploma)
101. Global Product Development and Management
102. Global Product Development and Management (Certificate)
103. Global Product Development and Management (Diploma)
104. Guided Weapon Systems
105. Guided Weapon Systems (Certificate)
106. Guided Weapon Systems (Diploma)
107. Gun Systems Design
108. Gun Systems Design (Certificate)
109. Gun Systems Design (Diploma)
110. Information Capability Management
111. Information Capability Management (Certificate)
112. Information Capability Management (Diploma)
113. Logistics and Supply Chain Management
114. Maintenance Engineering and Asset Management
115. Management
116. Management and Corporate Sustainability
117. Management and Entrepreneurship
118. Management and Human Resource Management
119. Management and Information Systems
120. Management and Information Systems (Certificate)
121. Management and Information Systems (Diploma)
122. Manufacturing Technology and Management
123. Manufacturing Technology and Management (Certificate)
124. Manufacturing Technology and Management (Diploma)
125. MBA (Transformation)
126. Metal Additive Manufacturing
127. Metal Additive Manufacturing (Certificate)
128. Metal Additive Manufacturing (Diploma)
129. Military Electronic Systems Engineering
130. Military Electronic Systems Engineering (Certificate)
131. Military Electronic Systems Engineering (Diploma)
132. Military Operational Research.
133. Military Operational Research (Certificate)
134. Military Operational Research (Diploma)
135. Military Vehicle Technology
136. Military Vehicle Technology (Certificate)
137. Military Vehicle Technology (Diploma)
138. Nanomaterials
139. Procurement and Supply Chain Management
140. Renewable Energy
141. Renewable Energy (Certificate)
142. Renewable Energy (Diploma)
143. Robotics
144. Safety and Human Factors in Aviation
145. Software Engineering for Technical Computing (Computational and Software Techniques in Engineering)
146. Strategic Marketing
147. Sustainability
148. Thermal Power and Propulsion (Diploma)
149. Welding Engineering
150. Welding Engineering (Certificate)
151. Welding Engineering (Diploma)

There are four academic schools which regulate the postgraduate degree at Cranfield University, UK. They are:

School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing (SATM)

1. Aeronautical engineering
2. Automotive engineering
3. Automation and control systems
4. Transportation science and technology
5. Robotics
6. Mechanical engineering
7. Materials sciences and engineering
8. Mathematics and statistics
9. Engineering photonics
10. Mechanics
11. Instruments and instrumentation

School of Water, Energy, Environment and Agrifood (SWEE)

1. Agriculture and agrifood
2. Chemical engineering
3. Water sciences
4. Renewable energy
5. Plant and soil science
6. Meteorology and atmospheric sciences
7. Environmental science
8. Geography
9. Geosciences

School of Management (SOM)

1. Business and management
2. Ecology and sustainability
3. Economics and Finance
4. Design and innovation
5. Design Thinking

Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS)

1. Applied Artificial Intelligence
2. Safety and Accident Investigation
3. Military sciences
4. Forensic Science

1. Professor Dame Karen Holford (Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor)
2. Professor Dame Helen Atkinson DBE (Deputy-Vice-Chancellor – Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences)
3. Gregor Douglas (University Secretary)
4. Professor David Oglethorpe (Deputy-Vice-Chancellor – Faculty of Business and Management)
5. Helen Perkins (Director of Human Resources)
6. Professor Mark Richardson (Pro-Vice-Chancellor – Shrivenham)
7. Professor Lynette Ryals OBE (Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive – MK:U)
8. Ian Sibbald (Director of Finance)
9. Professor Leon Terry (Pro-Vice-Chancellor – Research and Innovation)
10. Professor Sean Tyrrel (Pro-Vice-Chancellor – Education)
11. Professor David Denyer (Strategic Business Director)
12. Neil Wilson (Director of Finance and Operations)
13. Mark Threlfall (Director of Cranfield Executive Development)
14. Professor Graham Braithwaite (Director of Aerospace and Aviation)
15. Angel Medina Vaya (Director of Environment and Agrifood)
16. Tim Brewer (Interim Director of Education)
17. Professor Mark Jolly (Director of Manufacturing and Materials)
18. Professor Graham Braithwaite (Director of Transport Systems)
19. Professor Paul Jeffrey (Director of Water)
20. Professor Mark Richardson (Director of Defence and Security)
21. Susan Ross (Director of CDS Admissions)
22. Andrew Jones (Director of International Partnerships and Student Recruitment)
23. Jon Walker (Director of Communications and External Affairs)
24. Benedicta Morrow (Director of Alumni Relations and Development)
25. David Ford (Director of Information Services)
26. Stewart Elsmore (Director of Campus Services)
27. John Street (Director of Facilities)
28. Alicen Nickson (Director of Research and Innovation)
29. Professor Sean Tyrrel (Director of Academic Services, Academic Registrar)
30. Alison Whaley (Director of Student Experience)
31. Helen Perkins (Director of People and Culture)

While Cranfield University's academic focus is strong, there are plenty of opportunities for students to engage in activities beyond their studies.

Here are some of the exciting things a student can experience while studying at Cranfield:

1. Join various social clubs organised by student unions and engage in activities such as gaming, music and other cultural events.
2. Students can attend social events, workshops, online events and seminars to further develop their skills.
3. Students are able to explore the city surrounding Cranfield and visit museums, parks, riverside and festivals happening in the town centre.
4. Visit nearby towns and areas such as Milton Keynes or Bedford for shopping, dining and watching cinemas.
5. The sub-urban and countryside surrounded by Cranfield contains numerous beautiful and lush parks that students explore through hiking, cycling or just by walking.
6. For cultural experiences, students are also able to visit surrounding areas, museums and art galleries.
7. There are many voluntary and paid work opportunities in Cranfield that students can engage in to boost their confidence or earn to source living costs.
8. Students can visit nearby pubs, clubs or union-organised parties at the weekends giving them time to refresh their brains during their postgraduate study at Cranfield.

1. Undergraduate: 0%
2. Postgraduate: 100%
3. Full-time students: 48%
4. Part-time students: 52%
5. UK students: 58%
6. EU students: 13%
7. International students: 29%
8. Female: 29%
9. Male: 71%

Cranfield is located away from major cities but not as far as one might think. Travelling in and around Cranfield is fairly simple and easy, as there are various modes of transport available to commute.

1. The university has its own bus service that runs throughout the campus, connecting to nearby towns such as Bedford and Milton Keynes.
2. Multiple local bus services also operate in the area, covering surrounding towns and villages. Expect less availability, compared to the number of buses available in big cities.
3. A car can be a good option to commute around the town of Cranfield. The car insurance is less in this area compared to other big cities. Thus, affording a car is way easier.
4. Cycling can be a great way to daily commute when all the locations and amenities are in close proximity. It is a great way to stay fit and explore places that motor vehicles can not access.
5. Walking is the best choice for students to travel short distances between campus and nearby areas. Most of the roads have adequate pavement or sidewalks to promote walking as a primary means of commute.

There are 8 large halls for on-campus student accommodation. All rooms are furnished and prices inclusive of all utility bills, 24/7 security and access to various in-house features, such as laundry, common space, leisure room, study area, and indoor sports and are located within short walking distance to the main university buildings.

1. Baronese Young Hall- Located inside the uni campus. Suitable for single individuals with a shared kitchen and ensuite bathroom. (Price ranging from £218 to  £302 per week).
2. Chilver Hall - Shared housing for individual students with a shared kitchen and en-suite bathroom (Price £185 per week).
3. Lanchester Hall- Shared Housing with shared kitchen and shared/private bathroom (Prices ranging from £130 to  £203 per week).
4. Stringfellow Hall- Shared housing for individuals with a shared kitchen and private bathroom (Prices ranging from £206 to  £243 per week).
5. Mitchell Hall - Separate bedroom with full shared kitchen and shared bathroom or en-suite (Prices range from £190 to  £260 per week).
6. Fedden Houser- Suitable for Couples with separate kitchen and bathroom (Prices ranging from £245 to  £280 per week).
7. Family Houses-  Suitable for 3 or more members of the same family, with separate kitchen and ensuite bathrooms (Prices ranging from £260 to  £470 per week).
8. Shared Houses- For single students with shared kitchens and shared bathrooms (Prices ranging from £125 to  £170 per week).

* These rates are for 2024-25 and all rates are subject to change for 2025-26. Please make an enquiry at oncampus@cranfield.ac.uk for more up-to-date information regarding on-campus accommodation parking.

Cranfield University offers a variety of opportunities for students to stay active, socialise, and enjoy a balanced lifestyle. They are:

1. Tennis
2. Football
3. Cricket
4. Squash
5. Rock Climbing
6. Running/ Long distance walking
7. Badminton
8. Physiotherapy services
9. Golf
10. Swimming
11. Horse Riding
12. Cycling
13. Ladies Netball
14. Indoor Basketball
15. Photography
16. Gardening
17. Open discussion gathering
18. European Rugby
19. Quiz events.
20. Tree Planting

The university maintains fourteen formal, high-level strategic partnerships with industry. Yeilding long-term, in-depth collaborations in academic, research, and innovation activities. These partnerships significantly support our extensive Innovate UK and Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). They are:

1. Airbus
2. AWE
3. BAE Systems
4. Babcock
5. Boeing
6. Dstl
7. Pepsico
8. Procter & Gamble
9. Rolls Royce
10. SAFRAN
11. Severn Trent
12. Siemens
13. Spirit AeroSystems
14. Thales

Providing diverse research opportunities across various fields, Cranfield University has taken certain initiatives that are industry-focused and designed to tackle real-world problems with state-of-the-art research facilities, experienced faculty, and strong industry partnerships to support its research activities. Some of the key research areas include:

1. Aerospace: Research in areas like aerodynamics, propulsion, materials science, and autonomous systems.
2. Defence and Security: Research on defence technology, cybersecurity, and intelligence.
3. Energy and Sustainability: Research on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation.
4. Environment and Agrifood: Research on sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental impact assessment.
5. Manufacturing and Materials: Research on advanced manufacturing techniques, materials science, and supply chain management.
6. Transport Systems: Research on autonomous vehicles, intelligent transportation systems, and aviation systems.
7. Water: Research on water resources management, water quality, and wastewater treatment.

The latest tuition Fee for international students ranges between £10,410 to £41,060 per annum.

Students enrolling for master’s degrees in the 2025/2026 intake year can benefit from several new Cranfield University Scholarship programs. These scholarships have been made to ease some or a major part of the financial pressure, especially for international students. Here are some of the fantastic scholarships offered for the 2025/26 intake:

Environment, Agrifood, Water and Energy:

1. Course Excellence Scholarship
2. Regional Excellence Scholarship
3. Cranfield Merit Scholarship (Environment, Agrifood, Water and Energy)
4. Cranfield India Scholarship
5. Cranfield Nigeria Scholarship
6. Cranfield Vietnam Scholarship

Cranfield Forensic Institute:

1. Cranfield Forensic Institute Merit Scholarship
2. Cranfield India Scholarship
3. Cranfield Mexico Scholarship

Cranfield School of Management:

1. Cranfield Merit Scholarship
2. Cranfield School of Management Regional Scholarships
3. Cranfield School of Management China Scholarship
4. Cranfield School of Management India Scholarship
5. Cranfield School of Management Taiwan Scholarship

Manufacturing and Materials:

1. Manufacturing and Materials Excellence Scholarship

Discretionary Scholarships:

1. Cranfield Scholarship
2. Excellence Scholarships
3. Merit Scholarships

Cranfield University Alumni boasts notable alumni personnel, including prominent politicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists, authors, and Television characters. They are:

1. Antony Jenkins (Former group chief executive, Barclays Bank)
2. John McFarlane (Executive Chairman, Barclays)
3. Warren East (Former CEO of Rolls-Royce Holdings)
4. Andy Palmer (former CEO of Aston Martin)
5. Andy Bond (Former CEO, Asda)
6. Nader Al-Dahabi (Former prime minister of Jordan)
7. Karan Bilimoria (Founder and Chairman, Cobra Beer Ltd)
8. Jack Hathaway (Astronaut, one of the 10 candidates selected in the 2021 NASA Astronaut Group 23)
9. Samer Majali (CEO / President of Royal Jordanian airlines)
10. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu (Robotics engineer at NASA)
11. Balakrishnan Suresh (Air Marshal and Chief of WAC in the Indian Air Force)
12. James Vowles (Team principal at Williams Racing Formula 1 team)
13. Nigel Quinn (Water resources engineer, earth scientist)
14. Brian Norton (Solar energy technologist, President, Dublin Institute of Technology)
15. Michael Bear (Lord Mayor - The 683rd Lord Mayor of London)
16. Lyndon Smith (Professor in Computer Simulation and Machine Vision, University of the West of England)
17. Haslina Taib (CEO Dynamik Technologies, Brunei)
18. Charlie Mayfield (Chairman, John Lewis Partnership)
19. Winnie Byanyima (Executive Director of Oxfam International)
20. Major Charles Ingram (English fraudster and novelist)

The University Career Support is committed to providing comprehensive career and student support services to ensure that its students are well-prepared for their future careers. The university offers a range of resources and services mentioned below

1. Provides specialised training, learning resources and practice opportunities
2. Dedicated career development managers to help students with career planning strategies.
3. Get full access to the University’s Online Talent management platform: Simplicity
4. Provides guidelines on aspects of the recruitment process, this includes refining a CV/resume, helping with applications, developing cover letters, practising interviews and negotiating job offers.
5. Providing “Student Circus” an online website dedicated to helping international students to find suitable employment.
6. Offers comprehensive resource access to suit every type of student.
7. Supply learning packs, downloadable fact sheets, tutorials, webinars, instructional videos and podcasts for students to consume anytime they require.
8. Deliver a range of workshops in class and virtually, including topics such as interview techniques, presentation skills, writing application forms and assessment centres.
9. Cranfield University's service for international students provides advice and consultancy for all kinds of issues such as student visa processing, work allowances, rights and benefits,

1. Six-time winner of the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize.
2. Awarded 2nd in the UK for Masters in Supply Chain Management (QS World University Rankings 2025)
3. Recognised as a world-leading specialist provider by the UK Office for Students in 2022.
4. Awarded for ranking in the global top 30 for Engineering by  QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.
5. Ranked top 15 universities globally for sustainability by QS World University Rankings 2024

Cranfield University Rank is consistently high in various global rankings. Its specialised courses and unique study path have contributed massively to its reputation. Here are some key rankings

1. 6th in the UK by QS World University Rankings: Masters in Management ranking 2025.
2. 7th in the UK and 49th in the world by the Financial Times Masters in Finance 2024 Rankings.
3. 8th in the UK on Masters in Finance Rankings 2025 by the QS World University Rankings.
4. Ranked 12th in Europe for Full-time MBA by Bloomberg Businessweek's Best B-Schools 2024-25.
5. 28th in the WUR Ranking By Subjects.
6. 8th in the UK and 37th in Europe in the Financial Times European Business School Rankings 2023.

Cranfield is a scenic village in Bedfordshire, England, renowned for housing Cranfield University and Cranfield Airport. Situated between Bedford and Milton Keynes. The village offers a harmonious blend of rural tranquillity and modern conveniences such as schools, parks, and local shops, creating a welcoming community for its approximately 5,369 residents.

Cranfield University with its specialised postgraduate studies, has enriched the village’s popularity, fostering innovation and advanced research. Most noticeably in fields such as aerospace, engineering, and management.

The Cranfield Airport situated in the centre of the village, supports various aviation activities, adding to the area's unique charm. Rich in history and surrounded by green spaces, the small town of Cranfield provides a serene environment ideal for outdoor pursuits, making it a desirable location for both living and studying.